Impregnating apparatus



17, 1959 v.1 PAYNE 2,877,739

IMPREGNATING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet l I /Ga]. I Q 24 Filed Dec 7, 1956 INVENTOR VERNA L. PAYNE ATTORNEYS We}! 1959 v. PAYNE IMPREGNATING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 7, 1956 INVENTOR VERNA L-.PAYNE BY I ATTORNEYS States atent IMPREGNATING APPARATUS Verna L. Payne, Shawmut, Ala., assignor to West Point Manufacturing Company, West Point, Ga., a corporation of Georgia Application December 7, 1956, Serial No. 626,972

8 Claims. (Cl. 118-419) This invention relates to apparatus for impregnating fabric and more particularly to an improved immersion tank construction for such apparatus.

Non-woven fabrics are commonly manufactured by suspending textile fibers in an air stream and then passing the air stream through a moving endless foraminous member to deposit a web of fibers thereon in random fashion. Phillips et a1. Patent No. 2,648,876, issued August 18, 1953, illustrates a preferred method of manufacture. Since the non-Woven web when initially deposited on the foraminous member is light and fluffy and possesses little strength, it is customary to apply a liquid binder or other bonding agent thereto. As disclosed in the above-mentioned Phillips et al. patent, the web is passed immediately after formation to impregnating apparatus and then to drying or drying and curing apparatus, so as to effect stabilization of the web and give adequate strength and other properties thereto for further handling or ultimate use.

The impregnating apparatus such as disclosed in the Phillips et a1. patent embodies an endless foraminous belt member which is arranged to support and move the non woven fabric web into an immersion tank containing the liquid binder or bonding agent, beneath a foraminous impregnating drum carried by the tank, and then out of the tank past a vacuum extraction tube which is operable to effect movement of air through the impregnated web and thus remove excess impregnant therefrom. The impregnants utilized in this apparatus are somewhat difficult to handle and present various problems relating to gumming up and otherwise fouling of the parts of the apparatus as a result of the same depositing thereon. This problem is particularly troublesome in connection with the roller journaled in the bottom portion of the immersion tank for guiding the return flight of the foraminous belt member.

. Due to the handling difficulties of the impregnant, it is desirable to construct the tank so that its width is substantially the same as the width of the web moving therethrough. This minimizes the amount of impregnant necessary in the tank to insure thorough impregnation. Also, the impregnant utilized is retained in the most eflicient position to effect thorough impregnation. However, even with an efficiently constructed immersion tank, it has been necessary to remove the return flight roller in the tank at frequent intervals for purpose of cleaning 01f deposits of impregnant thereon.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an immersion tank in impregnating apparatus of the type described having improved means for rotatably mounting a foraminous belt supporting roller therein.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of an improved means for removably mounting a foraminous belt supporting roller in an immersion tank of the type described so that the same can be quickly dismounted for cleaning and the like.

Still another object of the present invention is the provision of an improved bearing means for an immersion tank mounted roller of the type described which is particularly resistant to fouling as a result of an impregnant depositing thereon.

A still further object of the present invention is the provision of an improved means for mounting an impregnating drum in an apparatus of the type described so as to enable the same to be positioned relative to the foraminous belt member so as to insure a uniform pressure on the fabric web across its width and to effect variations in such uniform pressure.

These and other objects of the present invention will become more apparent during the following detailed description and appended claims.

The invention may best be understood with reference to the accompanying drawings in which an illustrative embodiment is shown.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of an impregnating apparatus for non-woven fabric incorporating an immersion tank embodying the principles of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the impregnating apparatus with certain parts broken away for the purpose of clearer illustration;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken along the line 33 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken I along the line 4-4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of Figure 4; and

Figure 6 is a detailed perspective view of the bearing block.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the impregnating apparatus includes a frame 10 of any suitable construction arranged to support a centrally located impregnating tank, generally indicated at 12. An endless conveyor preferably in the form of a foraminous belt member generally indicated at 14, is suitably mounted on the frame 10, as by a plurality of suitably journaled rollers 16, 18, 20 and 22. Rollers 16 and 18 are mounted on the frame at opposite ends of the tank 12, while roller 20 is mounted on the trailing end of the frame in horizontally spaced relation with respect to the roller 18 and the roller 22 is mounted in the bottom portion of the tank in a manner hereinafter to be more fully described. The foraminous belt member 14 is trained over the rollers so as to form an upper flight arranged to support the web for movement into and out of the tank 12 and a return flight. An impregnating drum, generally indicated at 24, is journaled on the frame, in a manner hereinafter set forth in detail, between rollers 16 and 18 in a position to cooperate with the upper flight of the belt member 14. Mounted beneath the upper flight of the belt member 14 between the rollers 18 and 29 is a vacuum extraction device, generally indicated at 26, arranged to remove excessive impregnant from the web. The details of construction of' of lower side frame members 20. As best shown in- Figures 1 and 2, the impregnating drum 24, which preferably includes a peripheral screen 32 providing a foraminous peripheral surface, is mounted on the upper sideframe members 28 for adjustable movement in both a horizontal plane and a vertical plane. To this end, an L-shaped bracket 34 is mounted on each side frame member 28 so that its horizontal flange is in abutting relation to the upper surface thereof and its vertical flange extends upwardly therefrom. A threaded stem 36 extends through the vertical flange of each bracket 34 and is adjustably secured thereto, as by a pair of locking nuts 38 threaded on the stem 36 on opposite sides of the flange. Nuts 38 are secured on each stem by means of set screws or the like (not shown). When so secured, the nuts act as abutting collars which connect each stem to the associated bracket so as to permit longitudinal movement therewith and rotational movement with respect thereto. A second L-shaped bracket 40 is suitably secured to the upper surface of each side frame member 28 in spaced relation with respect to the associated bracket 34 with its vertical flange disposed parallel with the vertical flange of the bracket 34 and apertured to receive the central portion of the associated stem 36. Rigidly secured to the vertical flange of each bracket 40 is a nut 42 which threadedly receives the central portion of the associated stem. It will be seen that by turning the associated stem 36 through its nut 42 each bracket 34 may be moved into any position of horizontal adjustment with respect to its side frame member 28 by virtue of the connection of nuts 38 therewith.

Extending upwardly from the horizontal flange of each bracket 34 is a pair of parallel bars 44. Threaded bolts 46 extend through suitable elongated openings 48 in each side frame member and are engaged with the horizontal flange of the bracket 34 and each pair of the bars 44. A spring 50 is mounted on each of the bolts 46 in surrounding relation to the portion thereof extending below the associated opening 48 and the lower extremity has a nut 52 threaded thereon so as to adjustably tension the associated spring against the lower surface of the frame member 28. The springs 50 serve to resiliently urge the horizontal flange of the brackets 34 into frictional engagement with the upper surfaces of the side frame members 28 and yet permit horizontal movement by actuation of the stems.

The free upper ends of each pair of bars 44 are rigidly connected together by a cross bar 54, which is preferably of angle iron construction. As shown in Figure l, the vertical flange of each cross bar is bolted or otherwise secured to the associated bars 44, while the horizontal flange is centrally apertured to receive a threaded stem 56. Rigidly secured to the horizontal flange of each cross bar 54 is a nut 58 which threadedly receives the central portion of the associated stem 56. The lower end of each stem 56 is provided with an enlarged disk-shaped element 60 which seats in a socket member 62 rigidly secured to the upper end of a bearing block 64. As best shown in Figure 2, each bearing block 64 is provided with opposed vertical grooves 66 arranged to receive the associated bars 44 so as to guide the bearing block in any desired position of vertical adjustment. A locking nut 67 is tbreadedly engaged on the lower end of each stern so as to be tightened into engagement with the upper end of the associated socket member 62.

Referring now more particularly to Figures 36, the roller 22 is journaled within the lower portion of the tank by a mounting assembly 68 disposed at each side of the frame 10 so as to enable the roller 22 to be moved longitudinally out of the tank. T permit this movement, the tank 12, which preferably comprises a pair of substantially triangular-shaped side walls 70 interconnected along their lower edges by a trough-shaped bottom wall 72, has formed therein rectangular-shaped openings 74 of a size sufficient to permit the passage of the roller 22. Secured to the exterior surfaces of the side walls 70 in surrounding relation to the associated opening 74 are the mounting assemblies 68, each of which includes a tubular section 76 having its inner end rigidly secured to the adjacent side wall, as by Welding or the like, and its outer end provided with a peripheral flange 78 extending transversely outwardly therefrom. A rectangular plate 80 is sealingly engaged with the peripheral flange 78, as by a gasket 82, and retained in such position of engagement by means of a series of peripherally located T-shaped pivot bolts 84. The cross bar of each T-shaped bolt 84 is rotatably received within aligned apertures formed in parallel plate-like lugs 86 secured to the outer periphery of the tubular section 76 and to the inner surface of the peripheral flange 78. The plate and peripheral flange are peripherally slotted as indicated at 88 for the purpose of receiving the stem of the T- shaped bolts 84 and wing nuts 90 or the like are threaded on the outer end of the stem so as to engage the outer surface of the plate.

Secured to the inner central portion of the plate 80 is a tubular section 92, which together with the circumscribed inner surface of the plate, form a socket for receiving a bearing block 94. As best shown in Figures 4 and 6, the bearing block 94 preferably is formed with a triangular-shaped opening 96 which extends longitudinally therethrough. As shown, the corners of the triangular-shaped opening may be filleted as is well known in the art. The triangular-shaped opening 96 is arranged to receive the end of a shaft section 98 extending outwardly from the adjacent end of the roller 22.

As best shown in Figure 3, the roller 22 may conveniently be made up of a cylindrical sleeve 100 having disk plates 102 secured therein adjacent each end thereof. Each shaft section 98 extends through the associated disks 102 and is rigidly secured thereto as by welding or the like.

In operation, the web of light and flutfy fibers issuing from the forming apparatus (not shown) is led onto the foraminous belt member 14, desirably at position of roller 16. The foraminous belt member 14 is driven at a suitable rate, preferably coordinated with the rate of travel of the web forming apparatus. The web is supported by the foraminous belt member 14 and moved thereby into the immersion tank beneath the impregnating drum 24. Since both the belt member 14 and impregnating drum 24 are foraminous, the bonding agent contained in the tank 12 can readily contact and flow onto the web. Thus, the web is supported along its lower surface by the belt member and on its upper surface by the impregnating drum which insures a thorough but controlled impregnation and at the same time pro tects the web against damage. After the web has passed from under the impregnating drum 24, the same is moved upwardly by the belt member 14 over roller 18 then past the vacuum extraction device 26, the operation of which is fully set forth in the aforesaid Charlton et al. application. Finally, the impregnating web is moved over the roller 20 and into suitable drying apparatus (not shown).

It will be noted that the threaded stems 36 and 56 afford a means whereby the impregnating drum can be moved in both a horizontal plane and a vertical plane. This movement can either be a translational movement of the entire drum or an angular movement thereof in either plane. By mounting the drum in this manner, an accurate longitudinal registry between the periphery of the drum and the traveling foraminous belt member 14 is insured. It is of particular significance that the drum be in perfect longitudinal alignment with the belt member and this adjustment is accomplished by turning the threaded stem 36 on either or both sides of the frame.

Actuation of the stem 56 on either or both sides of the frame serves to maintain the application of a longitudinally uniform pressure on the traveling web by the impregnating drum. That is, by suitably adjusting either or both of the stems 56, the pressure applied to the traveling web by the drum can be made uniform throughout the width of the web. Moreover, this uniform pressure can be varied by suitably adjusting both of the threaded stems 56 after uniform pressure has been established so as to control the degree of impregnation. This insures that the fabric web will be thoroughly and controllably impregnated with bonding agent and lends desirable flexibility to the operation of the apparatus so as to accommodate differences in the consistency of the traveling web as well as the bonding agent being utilized.

The provision of the assemblies 68 for rotatably mounting the roller 22 within the bottom of the tank secures many advantages in the apparatus. It will be noted from Figure 3 that the cylindrical sleeve 100 of the roller 22 has a width which is approximately equal to the width of the tank. Consequently, equal support of the belt member throughout its width is provided. Moreover, by

the present arrangement, the width of the foraminousbelt member can also be substantially the same as the width of the tank which in turn permits the apparatus to handle a fabric web of maximum width and still insure a uniform impregnation throughout such width.

The mounting assemblies 68 provide a seal with the bottom of the tank so that escape of bonding agent during operation is prevented. Moreover, the construction of the bearing blocks for the roller shaft sections is such that clogging due to contact with the bonding agent within the tank is reduced to a minimum. The triangular-shaped openings 86 afford a substantial line contact with the outer ends of the shaft sections 98 which materially reduces friction. Moreover, the provision of open spaces adjacent the shaft bearing eliminates the inclusion of minute pockets or spaces which may become readily clogged by the bonding agent.

The T-shaped pivot bolts 84 are arranged so that their 0 wing nuts 90 may be readily loosened so as to permit the bolts to be swung out of engagement with the plate 80. In this manner, the roller 22 may be easily removed from its operative position within the bottom of the tank. That is, removal of the plate 80 which carries the hearing block 94 permits the entire roller 22 to be moved longitudinally or axially through the associated opening 74 in the side wall of the tank. The provision of a mounting assembly 68 on both sides of the tank enables the roller to be moved into or out of the tank on either side and permits ready access to the bearing block mounted on each side of the tank.

It thus will be seen that the objects of this invention have been fully and effectively accomplished. It will be realized, however, that the foregoing specific embodiment has been shown and described only for the purpose of illustrating the principles of this invention and is subject to extensive change without departure from such principles. Therefore, this invention includes all modifications encompassed within the spirit and scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In an impregnating apparatus for non-woven fabric, the combination comprising: an immersion tank having a pair of side walls and a trough-shaped bottom wall connected therebetween; a roller disposed in the bottom portion of said tank for engaging a fabric supporting endless conveyor, said roller having a cylinder portion extending longitudinally a distance substantially equal to the distance between said side walls and a shaft section extending outwardly from each end thereof; said side walls having aligned apertures formed therein for receiving said shaft sections; and means secured to said side walls and extending outwardly therefrom in surrounding relation to said apertures and shaft sections for rotatably supporting the latter, said means including bearing elements each having an opening therein of polygonal cross-section for receiving a shaft section with substantial line contact, at least one of said apertures being sufiiciently large to permit passage of the cylinder portion of said roller therethrough, the associated shaft section supporting means being movable out of supporting relation to the associated shaft section so as to permit withdrawal of said roller longitudinally through said one aperture.

2. The combination as defined in claim 1 wherein said shaft supporting means includes a tubular section secured to said one side wall in surrounding relation to said aperture, a peripheral flange on the outer end of said tubular section, and a plate removably secured in sealing engagement with said flange.

3. The combination as defined in claim 2 wherein each of said bearing elements comprises a block having an opening of equilateral triangular cross-section formed therein for receiving the associated shaft section, and wherein rigid elements are secured to the central interior of said plate for removably receiving said block.

4. impregnating apparatus for non-woven fabric comprising an immersion tank for receiving an impregnating material, a foraminous conveyor belt member mounted for movement in an endless path adjacent said tank, said belt member having an upper flight for supporting and moving the fabric into and out of said tank, an impregnating drum rotatable about an axis spaced above the upper flight of said belt member, said drum having a foraminous peripheral surface the lower portion of which is disposed in rolling contact with the fabric sup ported by said belt member within said tank, and means rotatably mounting said drum for varying the rolling contact pressure thereof exerted on the fabric and for maintaining an equalized rolling contact pressure thereon throughout the longitudinal extent of said drum.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein said lastmentioned means comprises a bearing member rotatably receiving each end of said drum, a bracket secured to said tank adjacent each end of said drum, and adjustable means securing each bearing member to the associated bracket in different positions of vertical adjustment.

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein each bracket includes a pair of upstanding parallel bars and a cross bar interconnecting the upper ends of said pair of bars, and wherein each said bearing member includes opposed vertically extending grooves slidably receiving the associated pair of bars.

7. Apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein each of said adjustable means comprises a threaded member having a lower end connected with the associated bearing member for vertical movement therewith and for rotation with respect thereto and an intermediate portion extending through and threadedly secured to the associated cross bar.

8. Apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein said belt member issupported for movement in said endless path by roller means including a roller having a cylinder portion of a width substantially equal to the width of said tank and shaft sections extending outwardly therefrom, said tank having apertures formed therein receiving said shaft, sections, and means secured to said tank and extending" outwardly therefrom in surrounding relation to said apertures and said shaft sections for rotatably supporting the latter, at least one of said apertures being sulficiently large to permit passage of the cylinder portion of said roller therethrough, the associated shaft section supporting'means being movable out of supporting relation to the associated shaft section so as to permit withdrawal of said roller longitudinally through said one aperture.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 486,636 Gage Nov. 22, 1892 1,390,343 Disbrow Sept. 13, 1921 1,842,111 Pater Ian. 19, 1932 2,058,369 Taylor Oct. 20, 1936 2,648,876 Phillips et a1. Aug. 18. 1953 

